Bower in thick of NBA playoffs

May 9, 2008 - Neil Rudel

NBA playoff observations:

*It's nice to see former Hollidaysburg and St. Francis product Jeff Bower enjoying tremendous success as the general manager of the New Orleans Hornets. The organization drafted Chris Paul and almost overnight became a significant factor in the rugged NBA Western Conference. Byron Scott was voted the NBA's coach of the year, but there's no question Bower has put his stamp on the organization. Here's hoping the Hornets get past the Spurs and into the Western finals against the Lakers or the Jazz.

*Gotta love TNT's 40 (playoff) games in 40 nights program.

*That Cleveland is crashing and burning so far against Boston is not necessarily an indictment on Cavs coach Mike Brown. But the fact that LeBron James is a combined 8-for-42 from the floor is. LeBron has been positively awful, and it's in part because Brown has been totally outcoached by Doc Rivers (who was totally outcoached by Mike Woodson). James has been forced into being a jump shooter, and it's shaken his game to the point where he's now missing layups. If things don't get better beginning Saturday night in Cleveland, Brown could be in trouble.

*That said, LeBron needs more help than the front office has gotten him (or Brown).

*Ray Allen started to shake out of his Game 1 woes in Game 2 and it's a good thing. Even as great a shooter as Allen has been throughout his career, meltdowns in key moments (read: Greg Norman) can become mental. Fortunately for Allen and Celtic fans, he takes some momentum into Game 3.